Enstrom 280C N51689
25 August 2002 · Coopersville, Michigan, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 25 August 2002 at about 21:30 local time, a Enstrom 280C registered N51689 was involved in an accident near Coopersville, Michigan, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 21:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Coopersville, Michigan, United States
- Coordinates
- 43.0595, -85.9300
- Aircraft
- Enstrom 280C
- Registration
- N51689
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Zeeland → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- CHI02LA256
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the transmission wires. Additional factors were the transmission wires and the sunglare.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The helicopter sustained substantial damage when it hit a transmission wire during cruise flight and impacted into a river. The passenger reported they were flying over the river on a westerly heading and the sun was in their eyes. She reported the helicopter was "running great" prior to the helicopter hitting the transmission wires. Witnesses reported seeing the helicopter flying approximately 70 feet over the river. The two transmission wires were approximately 70 feet in height.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Enstrom 280 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Apr 2002 | Enstrom 280FX | Alsatia, Louisiana, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 10 May 2003 | Enstrom 280C | Panama City Bch, Florida, United States | Aeroquest Inc., | No injuries | - |
| 22 Nov 2001 | Enstrom 280FX | Tallassee, Alabama, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 15 Jun 2003 | Enstrom 280C | West Branch, Michigan, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 8 Aug 2001 | Enstrom 280FX | Ouray, Colorado, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 2 Mar 2003 | Enstrom 280FX | Ruston, Louisiana, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 May 2002 | Yoder GP-4 | Mount Pleasant, Michigan, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 4 Jul 2002 | Beechcraft A-23-23 | Monroe, Michigan, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 11 Nov 2002 | Cessna 175 | Unknown, Michigan, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 13 Jul 2002 | Cessna 150H | Mecosta, Michigan, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 27 Aug 2002 | Schweizer SGS-126E | Ionia, Michigan, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 11 Jul 2002 | Cessna 310R | Jackson, Michigan, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |